January W22} THE PEACE CONFERENCE AND AFTER

Intended to take them out to play golf. In due course the event
happened and created a tremendous sensation. Neither Briand
nor BoBorni had ever touched a golf club, and their efforts
were of course quaint. All the party roared with laughter, but
poor Briand was digging his own grave. L. G. was iubilant
over his experiment, and said it would help to relieve the
tension. In fact, on the round he had one or two little political
chats with Briand and his entourage. L. G.Js object was to
create good feeling, he having had quite a row with Briand
on the first day of the Conference regarding an interview which
Briand had given to a Belgian paper, I thought the golf experi-
ment a great mistake, and that it would be misunderstood
and tortured by the Press. France is much concerned about
the position, and the incident had the appearance of a music-
hall farce. Things turned out as I believed they would. Briand's
position in France was very shaky, and the golf match—so-called
—helped to do the trick. He made a caustic remark when I drove
a fairly good ball. He laughingly said, "He hits the ball as far as he
sends the false news ! " The others present did not understand
that he was referring to the rumpus at Washington about
French naval proposals. However, he and I enjoyed the joke.

During the following days many chats with Worthington-
Evans. Years ago he and I were fellow-members of the Law
Students' Debating Society, He is shrewd and capable—a good
example of a clever city solicitor. He is a strong party man and
eager for an election because he thinks that unless one takes
place soon the split in the Conservative Party will develop. I
told him my views, with which in a measure he agreed.

CANNES, 12TH.—On Thursday morning I went to the Villa
Valetta, where L. G. is staying. Briand arrived. Curzon was
there already—also Grigg and Vansittart. L. G. came downstairs
very cheery, and the delegates went into conference, leaving
Sylvester} Vansittart and myself sitting by the fire in the
hall. After preliminary courtesies with the parrot, whose cage
was in the Conference room—a sagacious and amusing
bird—L. G., Briand & Co. settled down to business, the
purpose being to settle an aide memoirs drawn up by L. G.
and Grigg epitomising the statement made by L. G. to Briand
at their first meeting at Cannes on the previous Friday. This

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